Hotseat: Julia Sweeney

The actress best known as SNL’s Pat on why atheists should still pray with their parents.

Portland is officially the least religious city in the
country, according to a recent study. So it’s fitting that the largest
atheist organization in the country, the Freedom From Religion
Foundation, holds its annual conference here this weekend.

Among the speakers
are star atheists Richard Dawkins and Jessica Ahlquist, along with
Spokane, Wash., native Julia Sweeney. Sweeney is a comedian best known
for playing the character Pat on Saturday Night Live, but she’s also performed a handful of autobiographical stage shows documenting the loss of her faith, including God Said Ha! and Letting Go of God. She told WW why Portland’s godless residents should be more proactive.

WW: You live in Chicago, but you grew up in Washington. How are atheists in the Pacific Northwest different?

Julia Sweeney: The thing about Seattle is it’s so frickin’
PC that people can’t even say they’re atheist. They just have to say
that, you know, they appreciate everyone’s view of reality and no one
knows what’s right, but they are not religious.

Portland is sort of the same way. People here are apprehensive to offend. What do you think about that?

In one way, I feel really lucky that I became an atheist
before atheism was in the popular culture.... I might not have wanted to
be in that group because I would think, “Well, that seems like kind of
an angry group. I’m not angry. I’m not against things. I see what’s
valuable in religion, so I don’t want to be like that.” On the other
hand, I think that’s the exact attitude that allows the crazy religious
people to take over.

Why do atheists seem like assholes?

They’re saying unpopular and different things that aren’t what we’ve all be inculcated to hear as part of our general culture...they
see how much religion—but particularly the Christian religious
right—has used our government and taxes and our common will for their
own ends.

So, what should I tell my mom when she tells me to hold hands and pray before dinner?

I would totally do it, because to me, I become Margaret
Mead. I become an anthropologist and go, “Oh, the customs of these
people! They hold hands and pray to their god!” Humans are social
animals, and part of our cohesion is based in ritual.

So, an atheist should support atheist organizations?

I think they should support organizations because, this is
the thing—Christians have such a fantastic business model for their
churches. They promise something that they don’t even have to
deliver—eternal life. They have a huge amount of influence and money,
and they use it in our political system. Atheist organizations are
fighting off all of that.

GO: Julia Sweeney speaks at the Freedom From Religion
Foundation Convention, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 12-13. Registration has
closed. See ffrf.org for more info.